Interesting.

What I will say next will probably completely throw you. Katrina saved probably over 50,000 lives.

http://wizbangblog.com/2006/08/28/the-katrina-video-congress-didnt-want-you-to-see.php

I agree with that sentiment. I'm sure it opened the eyes of many citizens and people within our government on disaster preparedness that we desperately needed, even on a grander scale than simply fixing the levees in the future. It's a harsh statement, but sometimes the truth isn't easy to stomach.

I was down in NO in November helping out in the control center for a week. Every now and then I would peek over to the Army Core of Engineers tables and get a glance of the pictures they were reeling through.

I saw a lot of pictures with horrific damage in them but no pictures of the canel leeves.

I think the post Katrina analysis done by ACOE probably uncovered the same data found in the report, though they may not have been so forth coming with the information to the public.

Give those in NO credit where credit is due (yes even Nagin with his tirads). The people down there are extremly dedicated to bringing back what they can of NO.

The reality of the task at hand is much more than most can comprehend, both physically and socially.

Cheers,
__________________

I suppose the population is probably a little down, with high school football recruiters giving folks a helping hand moving out, and all.

That was definately an interesting read.

What kinda sucks about the whole deal is it wasn't just New Orleans that got hit bad, but its all anyone will think about. I was in Biloxi, Mississippi for a week a few months ago. We were doing a shoot back when that immigration story was at the top of the news, the goal was to show all sorts of foreigners taking jobs that people from Biloxi desperately wanted - namely construction and reconstruction. It was almost impossible to find an active construction site, everywhere we went we just saw blocks and blocks just slated for demolition later in 2006 through 2007. There is still so much work to be done outside of New Orleans that probably won't ever get taken care of since the focus isn't and wasn't there.

Well, the most destruction / damage was done in New Orleans. That can't be overlooked.

I dunno about other news outlets, but for CNN's anniversary coverage seemed more than fair to Biloxi... they spent maybe 10 mins with Nagin and his city and then spent 5 or more minutes with Biloxi's mayor and all the politicians gathered around him.

Equal time? No, but I don't think it should be either.

I recently read a report that said while the focus is on New Orleans that indeed there was incredible damage in that region to other states/cities.

It appears the difference is, those other areas are doing a far better job managing the rebuilding of said areas while Nagin and Blanco are totally blowing it in NO, LA.

I'll see if I can find similar reports online to what I read off.

Fandros

I suspect reconstruction of NO is far more complicated and expensive than that of other affected areas. I'd need to examine a more comprehensive examination before assigning blame (though given Nagin's bizarre reasoning, it wouldn't surprise me at all if he was botching the job in some respect).

Seems reasonable to me that NO gets more coverage, given the level of destruction and population density involved. I'm glad it didn't monopolize CNNs reporting.

Aye Thor I wasn't discounting the level of damage being ramped up in NO. Was just throwing in info why we still see cars that are obviously deserted in the middle of city streets in NO and in other areas not.

Naggin is a race card playing fruitcake who cares not about his city other than to keep his political clout.

Fandros

"Chocolate" fruitcake, you might say, given his use of the word. :p

I thought of referring to his claim of a chocolate city, but backed off for fear of folks labeling me a racist. ;P

Fandros

That's why I added the quotation marks and "given his use of the word." /nod

Building a city out of chocolate? Madness, I say MADNESS!!!!!!

*ahem*
While I know that the city of New Orleans is a major port, and I acknowledge the importance of rebuilding it, does anyone else think that this is a bad idea?
It just seems to me the costs alone are going to be outrageous. N/O has gotten a lot bigger over the years, branching out into areas they were under water a short time ago with only levees holding it back.
When the next CAT 3 or 4 or 5 comes roaring into town, what then?
Throw more money into the hole?

Nature > anything man can build

I bet Willy Wonka could make a great Chocolate City.

http://www.hersheypa.com/

Almost as good as Willy Wonka :)

I remember going to Hershey, PA about 25 years ago as a 5 year old. The only memory I have were the stop lights that were shaped like Hershey kisses.

Read an article the other day regarding the Mississippi coastline, and the fact that the strip along the coastline (approx 800 yards or feet, I forget) was getting a lot of attention, and people were lined up to build condos there, but further in there was little if any activity, since there was not a lot of money involved in the inner residential areas.

At least 6 of 7, I believe the number was, casinos are slated to be open this week of the anniversary of Katrina. And, they even made it easier on the casino folks and their contribution to the tax base by allowing construction on shore now, rather than only on the water.